Senior Dental Care
Oral health is an important part of aging. Our office specializes in providing compassionate dental care for seniors.
Senior Dental Care Services in Denver, NC
At our dental practice in Denver, NC, we understand the unique dental needs of seniors and are committed to providing comprehensive and compassionate senior dental care. Our goal is to ensure that our older patients maintain optimal oral health, functionality, and confidence in their smiles. With a focus on preventive care, restorative services, and personalized treatments, we help seniors navigate the specific challenges they may face with aging teeth and gums.
Our Senior Dental Care Services
We offer a wide range of dental services tailored to meet the needs of seniors, including but not limited to:
- Routine Check-ups and Cleanings: Regular dental visits are crucial for maintaining oral health, preventing tooth decay, gum disease, and detecting potential issues early.
- Dental Implants for Seniors: A durable and natural-looking solution for missing teeth, dental implants can significantly improve a senior’s quality of life by enhancing their ability to eat, speak, and smile with confidence.
- Dentures and Partial Dentures: We provide customized denture solutions designed to fit comfortably and look natural, restoring the function and appearance of missing teeth.
- Gum Disease Treatment: Special attention to gum health is vital for seniors, as they are more susceptible to gum disease. We offer treatments ranging from scaling and root planing to more advanced procedures to manage and treat gum disease effectively.
- Restorative Dental Care: From fillings and crowns to bridges, we offer restorative treatments to repair or replace damaged or decayed teeth, ensuring seniors can enjoy a fully functional smile.
-
What are common dental problems among seniors?
Darkened teeth: As you get older, the bone-like tissue under the enamel of your teeth (Dentin) will begin to change and ultimately become thinner, causing the darker, yellow color of teeth. This, coupled with lifelong years of consuming food and beverages that cause stains, you may notice darker teeth.
Dry mouth: Reduced saliva flow is a common side effect of over-the-counter and prescription medications, more regularly taken by seniors, making dry mouth one of the common oral health changes experienced by seniors.
Gum disease: This problem is often experienced by older adults and can be a result of plaque buildup, poor-fitting dentures, poor diets, or even certain diseases such as cancer, anemia, and diabetes.
Root decay: As you get older, it’s common for gums to recede, causing tooth roots to become exposed. When this happens, your roots are more prone to decay because they do not have any enamel to protect them.
-
What dental problems can cause health issues?
Taking care of your teeth, and gums, as you age is critical to avoid tooth loss and reduce your risk of other health-related problems, such as:
- Heart disease: Bacteria from your mouth can contribute to cardiovascular disease, and even heart attacks, by moving to your bloodstream through your gum tissue and into the walls of blood vessels.
- Respiratory infections: Bacteria from your mouth can also reach the lungs, causing infections in older adults which oftentimes leads to pneumonia. Your dental health is crucial for your respiratory health.
- Diabetes: Seniors with diabetes are more susceptible to developing gum disease, making it more important than ever that you keep good oral hygiene, because it can become harder to control blood sugar levels once you have gum disease.
-
How can seniors take care of their teeth as they age?
As you age, your immune system naturally weakens, making taking care of your teeth and gums more important than ever, especially because after the age of 50 plaque builds up more quickly and can be more difficult to get rid of.
Here are our tips for dental care for seniors.
- Practice good dental hygiene by brushing and flossing your teeth after every meal. Electric toothbrushes are extremely helpful for those with arthritis.
- Visit your dentist regularly for cleanings and exams. This will help identify issues early on, so you can stop and prevent large, costly problems.
- Drink water. Water has numerous health benefits for your oral health by washing away food and helping prevent dry mouth.
- Stop smoking. Smoking is not only hard on your teeth, it puts you at a higher risk for lung and oral cancers. Quitting this habit will decrease your risk of health issues–dental or otherwise.
Questions About Senior Dental Care?
If you have any questions or concerns about caring for your teeth as you get older, contact us or request your next appointment. We also provide a variety of preventative, restorative, and cosmetic dental services. What do you want to do next?
